The Book

When I say book I dont mean any book, but the only book in the world on vultures. it was through reading this book that I found out aboutt his reclusive like Dr livingstone who i so much wanted to meet and learn from. This was to be the beginning as I have said to a life changing experince, which took me all over africa, living and studying in some of the remotetest places but the most beaultuful.

The picture on the front of his famous book is that of a lappet faced vulture. This is the biggest of them all in africa and he is known as the brute and the bruiser.



Actually these birds are not just resident in Africa but are seen throughout the Middle East mainly Arabia.
In 1999 along with the Chief Bird Ecologist of Saudiwe spent along time studying these birds in the Arabian wilderness.

Vulture Study Group

It was thisVSG that first drew me into exploring more about these giant birds of the Americas and Africa and here was the beginning of my love for the vulture 



Africa Alert

Dr Peter Mundy probably the man that helped to change my life, in the direction of falling in love not only with vultures but Africa.

Vultures of Africa

Vultures in the Sky wherever you look, well not always. More than not people on safari or watching a wildlife documentary view them on a dead impala or something, what appears to be in their hundreds.

These birds have fascinated me for years, hence why as a Raptor Biologist I specialised in them by researching them all over the world.

Alot of people would ask me and still do, what on earth does a british guy where no vulture exist, fall in love with something so ugly.

Here begins the story as to why I don't agree

Why Africa

Why in deed, well you need to ask the thousands of people globally that visit this continent as to why they keep going.
Africa of course has so much to offer and I'm not silly to think all is fine there. It certainly is not, but without doubt apart from some parts of South America, Africa has to be one of the best and last places where there is untouched areas and where wild actually means wild.

I recall some years back one of my teachers giving a lecture in Durban, South Africa  one morning after sunrise. We went down to the beach the ocean looked breathtaking, blue, and fresh. To me when someone mentions the Indian ocean, that's what I think.
Any way my teacher gave a whole lecture on the ocean itself, but what he also mentioned and has stuck with me for all these years is he mentioned why people flock to the oceans, or the hills, or the jungles.
He explained man was in search of peace, to get away from the pressure of life and to reconnect with mother nature. That's true, and why I also do it and its wonderful therapy. Apart from that have you ever wondered also its where there is no wrong or evil.


Everyday in our urban jungles we are faced with crime and immorality etc, ( govts call it broken societies), but in the bush, jungle or the vast wilderness areas or the oceans, there is no crime, no mass killing or abuse. Yes animals have to eat, breed and guard territory etc, but its a natural aspect of life.

My teacher on this beautiful remote beach in Durban South Africa lectured on this for over one hour and how true his word were and still are.

Magical Africa

Without doubt I have been  in love with Africa since childhood. I suppose that's why I have been fortunate to have spent so much time travelling around the continent.

I'm not a darwinist, by no means but the wildlife  there is the best in the world.
From working with birds of prey many years ago to my first meeting a the reclusive wilderness legend from Zimbabwe Dr Peter Mundy, now Professor my life changed.

my family has very close connections with Africa, my children were born there, so naturally I write and just want to share my life, what I have gained and learnt with you out there.

2012 Courses

Hi,
Now the Academy is up and running through this blog I hope to bring Africa and its array of fauna and flora to you in you homes. I also hope as time goes by you will take a look at the courses that will be on offer for 2012 both in South Africa and Kenya.
The courses will vary between 7 and 28 days, but will be a truly wilderness experience.
The camps we have are away from normal day to day tourists, set in vast hectares of wild bush land, where the wild is roaming free.
The academy is just as it says, its the opportunity of learning about the great African outdoors and the classrooms  are the bush.

Along with this blog I will advertise the courses and the ones I will personally be leading on as time goes by and  keep you updated with any exciting news from the courses as it happens, or wild sightings and events that might be of interest to you.

I will post up to date photos and articles from around Africa and hope that you will share the wonderful opportunity that I have had working in the African wilderness for so long and hope soon you will join me on one of our courses.